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Topic: Towing weight question

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MysScarlet

23/5/2014 at 6:50pm
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Hi im a new to caravanning and I have a few questions about towing weights.

I have a caravan and it is 1200kg

in my car manual it says that the Braked Towing Weight is 1200kg. does this mean that my car can tow my caravan?

Also on my driving license i do not have B+E but i was reading up and it said that if the total weight of your car and caravan is below 3.5ton and as long as the car is more than the caravan then i am allowed to tow without having B+E. Is this correct?

Any advice would be very helpful

clever

23/5/2014 at 7:02pm
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Quote: Originally posted by MysScarlet on 23/5/2014
Hi im a new to caravanning and I have a few questions about towing weights.

I have a caravan and it is 1200kg

Is the 1200Kg the MIRO or MTPLM weight ?
It's usually on a plate by the door.

MIRO = mass in running order, as in the weight of the caravan with no additions e.g. gas bottles

MTPLM = maximum technical permissible laden mass (pre 1998 it was known as MGW maximum gross weight), as in the maximum the van can weigh with all your items inside it.

MTPLM minus MIRO = user payload, as in the maximum weight you can put inside the van when on-tow

tango55

23/5/2014 at 7:03pm
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There are two weights that are connected to a caravan's weight and that is the unladen weight which is known as the MIRO and the maximum laden weight which is known as the MTPLM. Firstly you need to identify which of the two weights the 1200 kgs. relates to and the way to find this out is there should be a small plate below the caravan door with both of these figures on so if you have a look then come back and re-post with the figures.

MysScarlet

23/5/2014 at 7:19pm
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the 1200kg is the MIRO the MTPLM is 1405kg

tango55

23/5/2014 at 7:24pm
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The figure you have to relate to with towing is the MTPLM which in your case is 1405 kgs. which the caravan is well over weight. If the kerbweight your car is 1200 kgs. and calculating an 85% match you would be looking at a caravan with an MTPLM of no more than 1020 kgs.
When you subtract the MIRO from the MTPLM that is called the payload which is the allowance of all your personal effects such as cutlery, plates, chairs, awning etc.

MysScarlet

23/5/2014 at 7:31pm
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So in short my car will not tow this caravan?

tango55

23/5/2014 at 7:37pm
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That's right as the caravan would be 205 kgs. heavier than the car.

1405 - 1200 = 205 kgs.

freeatlast

23/5/2014 at 7:39pm
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MysScarlet

23/5/2014 at 8:16pm
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My dad has a 1.4 astra and he towed the caravan home for me as i dont have a tow bar on my car at the minute. I got the caravan from my late granda he left me it in his will and i just wanted to check if my car would be suitable to tow it. I have a 2002 1.8 Toyota corolla verso and the caravan is a adria supra it has a twin axle. I honestly no nothing about towing a caravan and i want to do my research.

tango55

23/5/2014 at 8:36pm
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As you have the twin axle caravan that weighs in at 1405 kgs. then you would be looking for a suitable towcar with a kerbweight of around 1650 kgs. for a safe 85% match for towing. This of course would be recommended being a novice having not towed a caravan previously but at least you now have a guide as to what sort of vehicle you need.

Colin21

23/5/2014 at 8:51pm
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I would have thought that a large twin-axle caravan would need a large powerful car to tow it. I am somewhat surprised that a 1.4 Astra could cope. When I was looking for a caravan, I was told that my car wouldn't really be suitable for a twin-axle van, and I have a 2.5 litre Volvo turbo diesel estate! I was told that the nose-weight would be too high and the engine was not powerful enough, and I was told that by the company that fitted my towbar.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

tango55

23/5/2014 at 9:01pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 23/5/2014
I would have thought that a large twin-axle caravan would need a large powerful car to tow it. I am somewhat surprised that a 1.4 Astra could cope. When I was looking for a caravan, I was told that my car wouldn't really be suitable for a twin-axle van, and I have a 2.5 litre Volvo turbo diesel estate! I was told that the nose-weight would be too high and the engine was not powerful enough, and I was told that by the company that fitted my towbar.

I thought exactly the same as I wouldn't have attempted pulling that sort of weight either with my 2.4 Volvo diesel. Checking the kerbweight on my car against the twin axle's MTPLM would have come to over 92% so I dread to think what the match was with a 1.4 Astra. I supposed the OP had no other option really but glad they made it back safely.

MysScarlet

23/5/2014 at 9:40pm
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the caravan its self is very easy to move by hand, the drive was mainly motorway so was mostly straight and the car was fine towing it. My car is a 2002 1.8 Toyota corolla verso and i wasn't sure if i should be towing a caravan with that engine.

Grampian91

23/5/2014 at 9:40pm
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Your dad probably towed it illegally also.

I have a feeling that a 1.4 astra has a max tow of less than 1000kg.

michell8

23/5/2014 at 10:02pm
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The short answer is that it is illegal to tow the caravan you have with the car you have. If you want to tow it you will have to buy a bigger car. As you do not have B+E licence you would need a car weighing about 1600kg kerbweight but with a gross weight(ie fully loaded)of no more than 2090kg(ie 1405 + 2090 = 3495).

To tow on a B licence combined max possible gross weights or car/caravan need to be below 3.5t. You cannot just load under weight to achieve under 3.5t on weighbridge.

Colin21

23/5/2014 at 10:24pm
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Have you considered getting a B+E licence? I am not sure what that involves these days, as I passed my car test when heaters in cars were still an optional extra, lol.

Perhaps a short towing course would be a good idea too, especially if you are going to tow such a large caravan as a first tow.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

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